Appeal to help Fr. Zacharie Sorgho in Mali

obtain
supplies of drugs

for a
group of his parishioners

who
suffer from Epilepsy and NOMA.

l-r; Fr
Zacharie Sorgho MAfr; The postmaster in Fr. Zacharie? village with the boxes
of drugs November 2012

Fr.
Zacharie Sorgho M.Afr. is a White Father from Burkina Faso now working in Mali.
He is a Pelican by virtue of spending a year studying in Margate! He has asked
for help with providing drugs for some of his parishioners with epilepsy and
Noma. Conventional western products are very difficult to obtain in Mali, where
there is no insurance or NHS, and are often very expensive, out of reach for
most local people in Mali.

Epilepsy is
a chronic neurological condition which can affect both men and women. Sometimes
its onset may be without any warning.

There are
two main types: partial seizures refer to brief (10-14 second) absence attacks
which are not nearly as debilitating as generalised seizures. Partial seizures
invariably start in childhood and consist of a brief cessation of activity
associated with a blank staring look and occasional nodding of the head,
fluttering of the eyelids or small convulsive movements of the limbs. Objects
may be dropped but the person does not collapse. Partial seizures sometimes
continue into adolescence and adult life. About 50% of children with partial
seizures will later develop generalised seizures.

In
generalised seizures there is an abrupt loss of consciousness often with
sustained contractions affecting all muscles including those used for
breathing. There can then be a period of repeated violent jerking movements of
the body and limbs which can last for several minutes. At the end of the
seizure consciousness slowly returns and irrational behaviour may take place of
which the patient has no memory. Many may have a few seconds warning of a
seizure and can then sit or lie down. Others get no warning and collapse with
convulsions and a loss of consciousness. This can be very alarming for
individuals around them.

The
Appeal Summary

1.Some communities
in West Africa see these poor people as possessed by evil spirits and they are
feared, despised and ostracised by their families and associates. The sufferers
may put themselves in danger of falling into open fires or drowning and in many
cases become increasingly impoverished because they cannot work.

2.The symptoms
described above can all be effectively controlled with well-known and
inexpensive drugs. The local physicians in Fr. Zacharie? parish of Norio in
Mali have been using carbamazepine and phenytoin. We have now proved that these
products can be effectively shipped to him. On 22nd October 2012, we
acquired and arranged shipping for a pilot supply of both drugs and we are
delighted to advise you all that these reached Fr. Zacharie on 8th
November (see photo at top of this document). In other words, they took about
three weeks to arrive.

3.Further supplies
can be obtained but I (Mike) cannot fund them all myself and we would be most
grateful if The Pelicans, can support this appeal to allow a relatively
continuous supply of the above drugs to be sent to Fr. Zacharie for his
patients.

4.A summary of
what these drugs will cost: 100 packs of carbamazepine 200 mg will cost
approximately $620, 50 packs of phenytoin $245.50. This is the minimum order
that we would have to place to get these prices. The ? to $ conversion today is
?1= $1.59. This is about half the price that the NHS has to pay for these
products. It is very much less than Fr. Zacharie has been paying locally. The
total sum is approximately ?550 per consignment of this size, plus packaging
and postage.

5.The other
condition which Fr. Zacharie refers to in his initial appeal is an oral fungal
condition called NOMA. It has not been seen in Europe since the early 19th
century (with the exception of concentration camp inmates during the 2nd
world war). It is known as The Ulcer of Extreme Poverty and with decent
nourishment and clean water supplies it need not break out. It is a progressive
and horribly disfiguring disease which can be treated with two old and
inexpensive drugs namely penicillin and metronidazole. We can obtain these
drugs too and we would like to suggest that we use the funds we receive through
donations to help with this condition too.

6.We would be most
grateful if you would consider helping to provide ongoing supplies of these
drugs to Fr. Zacharie as it will help demonstrate that we as Christians are not
simply about using words to preach the gospel of care and compassion ?actions
speak much louder than words!

7.From a financial
perspective we have set up a community bank account under the name Africa
Medical Aid Project
(AMAP) into which donations and funds can be placed. We will not be charged for
operating this account. The two signatories to the account are Mike Ellis and
John Joyce ?both members of the Pelicans and who live close to Guildford in
Surrey.

9.In order to
maintain continuity of supply of these and other possible products for the
treatment of diseases like TB and Malaria, the best means of doing this is for
you to send a donation to the account above or, even better, to set up a
standing order with your bank for a sum to be sent to the account each month.
This will enable John and me to ensure that funds are always available when
needed.

10. We will be
most grateful if you and your friends can help us to get AMAP underway as soon
as possible. If you would like any further information please don? hesitate to
contact us directly.

I am writing this page to give you my news and our country's Mission, Mali which has been at war for more than a week. First thank you for your prayers, your support fraternal and friendly which I appreciate a lot and are for me a great brand of friendship and communion in what we live here. For a long time, rebel groups of Mali North imposed their laws and were terror among the peoples of the North: amputation of hand, whip, raquettage, sexual violence for women and young girls, etc... Misery was great and the media spoke every day, but nothing was done at the national level as international. Then, rebel and Islamic groups is already believed winners and masters from all over the country. They really want to rule their laws and apply Sharia throughout the country.

There were more in addition to the talks to see how the African Union and ECOWAS could intervene to support the Malian army to regain the 2/3 of its territory occupied by Islamist djahadistes. Then selfish interests, ethnic feuds and jealousies of each of the other related power bulimia constituted an obstacle to this. During this time our bearded them, progressed and as of good thieves at the fair, fomented their bad shots.

Surprise! One morning, taken by assault and attack conquest of the town of Konan, not far from Bamako and other cities of the South. It creates a general psychosis in the city and the inhabitants were all confused. It was the leak and the cries of despair. Then France decided to intervene finally! Ah thanks to the France and to all those who have contribute to the quick decision to intervene more quickly otherwise ca began to panic everywhere.

Konan after heavy fighting and especially the help of the France was taken from the hands of the Muslim jihadists. But they then attacked the town of Diabaly and taken it. They used human people as a shield. They returned to families and mingled with the population scared and ensconced at home. They recover the portable people to prevent them from communicating with people from the outside or with their loved ones. Then they stuck to the people, thus preventing the French and Malian army conduct targeted strikes. But yesterday after heavy fighting hand-to-hand, the town of Diabaly was taken over by the French and Malian armed forces. People are in the euphoria. All wish to thank France for its assistance and its presence. This was surely the price to be paid and already we are seeing but that shouldn't bring down the arms. Ah victory is at the end of the wire. French aid to the Malian army and that of the ECOWAS + UA must be point and then it is up to us to provide the rest.

During this time what happens - it in my parish in Nioro du Sahel in the North-West? We welcome the war displaced. There were already many who fled from the attacks of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal and who had found refuge in our area on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. Some host families had welcomed them and helped them up there. But with air strikes and the interventions of the armed forces, we see many people more come to us. They all fled the Northern War, with their children and their parents. It must be said that many arrive with nothing, if not with a backpack with a few personal effects. The Moors are Aboriginal, a Malian especially. Flee the strikes and especially the bombing and rebel jihadists.

This is my first time to see so many war-displaced. They have fled the war and they have all left or lost their property. The only good that their remains is life saver! All render thanks to God for this. But physically, they are poor. For example, need them with Jerry cans to clean water for drinking and with whom fetching water. Need them at least a pot (pot) with which they will be able to cook and heat water. Need them a mat to sleep, a Cup to drink, food to eat, and a tarp for shelter. You see that these are basic needs, primary but without which these people can not live in a little dignity. Or find it all? To buy and merchants do not love at all. During this time of war, the price increased to confirm that the misfortune of some makes the happiness of others.

Me I opted to be with them. I go nowhere. I do avoid as the mercenary to leave the flock. I am human and everything which is human and that the key touches me also. It is my vocation, to make and to testify that God's love to all especially in these difficult times that they go through. We do not distinguish by religion or ethnicity. All are welcomed. " What you have done to the least of mine, it's me that you did ' says Christ. At the moment our European colleagues are called to either leave the country or to gather in Bamako in the capital where security is more accentuated. Europeans should not travel alone or make long trips out of town only. We are all called to be vigilant in all!

I am doing well and I count on your prayers. Soon the liberation of the country will be by the grace of God and by your prayers and peace will return again. In the meantime I entrust you throughout the country and every son and daughter of the country in your prayers.

May God bless you! Thank you for all your multiple support and your cooperation to our mission. We are here to cause you too, your prayers and your great solidarity.

With my love,
Father Zechariah SORGHUM
Parish priest of the parish of Nioro du Sahel in Mali